C'est un petit livre par la taille mais important pour les informations et conseils utiles qu'il propose afin de mieux comprendre et d'apporter un soutien adéquat aux personnes autistes.
D'une manière un peu provocatrice, le livret énumère dix règles de base "à ne pas suivre" dans l'accompagnement des personnes présentant des particularités du spectre de l'autisme.
En contrepartie, le texte offre des pistes pour une réflexion plus poussée sur les pratiques mises en œuvre par les différents professionnels intervenant auprès des personnes autistes (ou avec un autre trouble du neurodéveloppement) et oriente vers des pratiques plus adaptées : mieux comprendre pour mieux intervenir et soutenir.
Dr Damian Milton s'est intéressé à l'autisme lorsque son fils a été diagnostiqué à 2 ans. Lui-même a été diagnostiqué à l'âge de 36 ans.
Voici reproduites ci-dessous (en anglais, avec l'accord de la maison d'édition) 3 des 10 règles présentées dans le livre (traduction facile avec Deepl).
Rule 4 : Do not give me things to do that interest me
Instead, make me work very hard on things that I find difficult or things I really don't like...
POSITIVE PRACTICE
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Play to my strength.
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Find out what interests me. Recognise and understand my interests - encourage my expertise and knowledge in these areas.
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Use my interests to reduce stress and provide opportunities (not simply as a "reward" for "good behaviour".
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Recognise that intensive activity can be stressful and tiring - although becoming absorbed in things of interest can be very satisfying and reduce stress.
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Recognise my achievement.
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Recognise my right to be different.
Rule 5 : Do not teach me how to make choices or to broaden my horizons
Assume I cannot do things. Prevent me from trying new experiences. Allow me to indulge in an unhealthy and sedentary lifestyle. Give me a poor diet such as burgers, fizzy drinks and coffee. Do not educate me about alternatives.
POSITIVE PRACTICE
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Remember to include me in new things and I will learn.
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Recognise I might need support to try new things or to rehearse them.
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Exercise and a healthy lifestyle can be interesting and fun - make it so.
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Give me information in ways that mean something to me. Choice is only meaningful if I know what the options are.
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Educate and enable me to make choices and make adjustments that will give me opportunities
Rule 10 : Expose me to things you know will stress me out
That way I'll "get used to them" !
POSITIVE PRACTICE
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Avoid known stressors, especially if they are related to painful sensory experiences or specific phobias - these need careful handling.
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Help me anticipate, prepare or rehearse if a stressful event is inevitable.
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Provide close support and gentle encouragement for me to try new things.
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Avoid confrontation.
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Find ways to give me control over my life, such as a visual schedule, a self-monitoring device, or access to a personal mentor or life coach to tackle known stressors.
Ten rules for ensuring people with learning disabilities and those who are on the autism spectrum develop ''challenging behaviour", de Damian Milton and Richard Mills with Simon Jones.